न ह्य् अमूर्तस्य सिध्यन्ति विनाधारं किल क्रियाः । इत्य् आधारैकनिष्ठत्वम् आश्रित्यासौ तपस्स्थिता
For actions of the formless truly do not succeed without a support; thus, relying on a single foundation, she remained steadfast in her austerity.
जीवसूची लोहसूचीं पिशाची शिंशपाम् इव । सर्वतो वलयाम् आस वात्येवामोदलेखिकाम्
The vital needle encircled the iron needle on all sides, like a demoness embracing a shimshapa tree, or like a breeze winding around a garland of fragrance.
ततस् ततःप्रभृत्य् एषा सूची दीर्घतपस्विनी । अरण्यान्यां स्थिता शक्र तत्र वर्षगणान् बहून्
From that time onward, O Indra, this needle, devoted to long austerity, remained there in another forest for many years.
तस्या वरार्थं यत्नं त्वं कुरु कर्तव्यकोविद । चिरेण सम्भृतं लोकम् अलं दग्धुं हि तत्तपः
For her noble purpose, you should exert yourself with skill in duty; for the ascetic power accumulated over a long time is indeed sufficient to burn the world.
इति नारदतश् श्रुत्वा शक्रस् सूचिनिरीक्षणे । मारुतं प्रेषयाम् आस दशदिङ्मण्डलान्य् अथ
Hearing this from Narada, Shakra, with keen observation, sent the wind to the ten directions.
जगामाथ मरुत्संविद् आत्मना तां निरीक्षितुम् । अवमुच्य नभोमार्गं विचचार त्वरान्वितः
Then, in accord with the wind, he went himself to observe her, swiftly traversing the sky-path with haste.
सा वातसंवित् क्षिप्रा वै नैव सर्वगता सती । परमा चिद् इवाविघ्नं सहसैव ददर्श ह
That wind-consciousness, being quick and all-pervading, suddenly saw her without obstruction, just as the supreme consciousness perceives.
भूमेस् सप्तसमुद्रान्ते निबद्धां विपुलस्थले । लोकालोकाद्रिरशनां नानामणिमयोपलाम्
At the edge of the earth's seven oceans, on a vast plain, bound by the mountain belt of Lokāloka, adorned with various jewel-stones, he saw her.
स्वादूदकाब्धिवलयं सकोटरककुब्गणम् । पुष्करद्वीपवलयं तदन्तर्गिरिमण्डलम्
He saw the ring of the sweet-water ocean, with its mountain ranges, the circle of the Pushkara continent, and the mountain region within it.
मदिराम्भोधिवलयं तज्जलेचरसंस्थितम् । गोमेधद्वीपकटकं तन्मध्यविषयव्रजम्
He saw the ring of the wine ocean, inhabited by creatures of its waters, the shore of the Gomeda continent, and the realm at its center.
इक्षूदकाब्धिपरिखां सान्तर्गिरिगणान्तराम् । क्रौञ्चद्वीपोर्वरापीठं सान्तर्गतगिरिक्रमम्
He saw the moat of the sugar-water ocean, with its inner mountain groups, the eastern plateau of the Krauncha continent, and the sequence of mountains within it.
क्षीराब्धिमुक्तावलयं समध्यगतनायकम् । श्वेताख्यद्वीपवलयं सभूतप्रतिभागकम्
Encircled by the ocean of milk, with its central lord, surrounded by the island called Śveta, and accompanied by its elemental counterparts.
भूमेर् घृतोदवलनं सान्तस्थामरमन्दिरम् । कुशद्वीपवृतिव्यासं सुमहाशैलकोटरम्
With the earth girdled by clarified butter, containing the celestial dwellings within, the expanse of Kuśa island as its radius, and vast mountain caverns.
दध्यम्भोराशिरशनां सान्तश् चरपुरोदराम् । शाकद्वीपोर्वराकारं सान्तस्स्थविषयान्तरम्
Girdled by the ocean of curds, with moving cities within, shaped like the eastern part of the Śāka island, and containing inner realms.
क्षाराम्भोराशिपरिखां सान्तस्स्थपुरपर्वताम् । जम्बुद्वीपमहामेरुं कुलपर्वतसङ्कुलम्
Moated by the ocean of brine, with inner cities and mountains, the great Meru of Jambudvīpa crowded with its range of family mountains.
वातस्कन्धेभ्य एवादौ पतत्य् अनिलवेल्लना । क्रमेणानेन पर्यन्ते तेनैव प्रसृतेह सा
At first, by the gusts of wind, it falls, tossed about by the air; in this way, it proceeds gradually to the end, carried along by that very force.
वायुर् आलोकयन्न् इत्थं जम्बुद्वीपं निरीक्ष्य च । तत् प्राप हिमवच्छृङ्गं यत्र सूचिस् तपस्विनी
Thus, the wind, observing Jambudvīpa, beheld it and reached the peak of the Himalayas, where Sūcī, the ascetic, was engaged in austerity.
शृङ्गमूर्ध्नि महत्य् उग्रे सो ऽरण्यानीम् अवाप ताम् । द्वितीयाकाशविततां वर्जितां प्राणिकर्मभिः
On the lofty, formidable summit, he found her, the forest-dweller, spread out in the second sky, untouched by the actions of living beings.
असञ्जाततृणव्यूहां निकटत्वाद् विवस्वतः । रजोमयीम् एव ततां संसाररचनाम् इव
With no growth of grass yet arisen, due to its nearness to the sun, she was pervaded only by dust, like the construction of saṃsāra itself.
मृगतृष्णानदीसार्थपूरणीयाब्धितां गताम् । शक्रकोदण्डसङ्काशमृगतृष्णासरिच्छताम्
Having reached the state of a river of mirage, filled as if with the waters of an ocean, resembling Indra’s bow, and appearing as a stream of mirage.
अमितोपान्तपर्यन्तां लोकपालेक्षितैर् अपि । केवलं पवनस्पन्दप्रचलद्धूलिकुण्डलाम्
Boundless at its edges, even when observed by the guardians of the world, it is merely a whirl of dust stirred by the movement of the wind.
सूर्यांशुकुङ्कुमैर् लिप्तां लग्नचन्द्रांशुचन्दनाम् । विलासिनीम् इव व्योम्नो वातशीत्कारगायनाम्
Smeared with saffron rays of the sun, adorned with sandalwood-like beams of the moon, she shines like a celestial maiden, singing in the sky with the coolness brought by the wind.
सप्तद्वीपसमुद्रमुद्रणसमुच्छूनैकदेशाश्रयं भूपीठं परितो विहृत्य पवनो दीर्घाध्वना जर्जरः । तां प्राप्याग्रगिरिस्थलीम् अलिवपुर्व्योमाङ्गलग्नाम् इव व्यात्तानन्तदिगन्तपूरकबृहद्देहो विशश्राम सः
The wind, worn out by its long journey, wandered around the earth, which holds the marks of the seven continents and oceans, and finally rested upon the summit of the foremost mountain, as if its vast body filled the endless directions, like a swarm of bees settling in the sky.
तत्र तस्योर्ध्वशृङ्गस्य तस्यां मूर्धमहावनौ । ददर्श मध्ये तां सूचीं प्रोत्थितां सशिखाम् इव
There, on the lofty peak, in the great forest atop the mountain, he saw at its center a needle-like form rising up, as if with a tuft.
एकपादं तपस्यन्तीं शुष्यन्तीं चिरम् ऊष्मपाम् । सततानशनाच् छुष्कां पिण्डीभूतोदरत्वचम्
Practicing austerity on one foot, enduring heat for a long time, always fasting, she had become dry, her skin and belly shriveled into a lump.
सकृद्विकासिनास्येन गृहीत्वैव तम् आनिलम् । पश्चात् त्यजन्तीं हृदये ऽप्य् एव मान्तीम् अनारतम्
With a single, wide-open mouth she would take in the wind, then release it, never letting it go from her heart, doing this constantly.
शुष्कां चण्डांशुकिरणैर् जर्जरां वनवायुभिः । अचलन्तीं निजात् स्थानात् स्नपिताम् इन्दुरश्मिभिः
Dry, battered by fierce sun rays, worn by the forest winds, unmoving from her place, she was bathed by the beams of the moon.
पूर्वं रजोऽणुनैकेन समधिष्ठितमस्तकाम् । कृतार्थत्वं कलयता ददतान्यस्य नास्पदम्
Previously, the mind, established by a single atom of passion, perceiving fulfillment, does not grant a place to another.
अरण्येनेव दत्तार्घां चिराज् जातशिखाम् इव । मूर्ध्नीव स्थापितप्राणां जटाकूटवतीम् इव
Like one who offers water in the wilderness, or one whose hair has grown after a long time, or one whose breath is placed upon the head like a tangled mass of locks.
तां वीक्ष्य पवनस् सूचीं विस्मयाकुलचेतनः । प्रणम्यालोक्य चरितं भीतभीत इवाग्रतः
Seeing that needle, the wind, his mind filled with astonishment, bowed and observed her conduct, standing before her as if fearful.